Community led total sanitation for community based disaster risk reduction: A case for non-input humanitarian relief.

Daniel H Mlenga,Yemane A Baraki

doi:10.4102/jamba.v8i2.183

Abstract

Sanitation related diseases have become endemic in southern Africa resulting in increased sanitation and hygiene morbidity and mortality. The region has experienced 318 400 cases of cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks between 2006 and 2012. There is insufficient financing for sanitation and hygiene activities, as people lack basic sanitation services, they engage in open defecation, the primary cause of faecal oral disease transmission. This study investigated Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), subsidy free, community based disaster risk reduction approach, for open defecation reduction, in four constituencies in Swaziland. Data collected from households, through a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey illustrated that with appropriate training, involvement of traditional and community leaders, CLTS minimises open defecation. There is need of participatory rural appraisal through regular community monitoring and feedback meetings, as the disgust generated especially for women and youth, through the meetings, as well as group dynamics, steer the sustained construction and use of sanitation facilities. Lack of coordination between Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) leads to slow improvement of sanitation coverage, wherein the same communities are promoting CLTS and others are promoting Subsidy Based Sanitation Intervention (SBSI) which involves subsidies. It is recommended that there be coordination between partners for harmonisation of messages and an integration of the CLTS and SBSI approaches.

Highlights

Inadequate water and sanitation amenities and unhygienic habits play a part in millions of deaths of children annually, with almost 1.5 million children under five dying from diarrhoea each year (United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] 2009)
This study investigated Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), as a community based disaster risk reduction approach, for OD reduction, with the end objective being to scale up LTS to increase sanitation coverage with minimum resources
The Community Led Total Sanitation Campaign was implemented through a collaborative effort between IRD community officers and community Rural Health Motivators

Summary

Introduction

Inadequate water and sanitation amenities and unhygienic habits play a part in millions of deaths of children annually, with almost 1.5 million children under five dying from diarrhoea each year (United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] 2009). Sanitation has, been incorporated by the United Nations into the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) with the MDG for sanitation lagging behind for most African countries (Figure 1), which in turn affects the delivery of other MDGs. The unrelenting struggle against sanitation and water poverty in southern Africa continues to be the daily reality (Water Aid 2014). The region has experienced cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks, with 318 400 cases reported between 2006 and 2012. In 2008 alone, over 167 000 cases and 4900 deaths were reported in nine countries

Methods

Results

Conclusion